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Degree Title

Bachelor of Arts

Summer A 2024 Start Date:

May 6, 2024

Summer B 2024 Start Date:

June 17, 2024

Overview

FIU's fully online BA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies offers undergraduate students the ability to develop an interdisciplinary awareness and understanding of Latin America and the Caribbean. Candidates will select courses from their area of concentration which include Language and Culture, Governance and Security, Migration and Transient Communities, and others. They will also be introduced to topics from the areas of International Political Economy of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Latin American and Caribbean Cultures.

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  • Why Apply?

    A bachelor’s degree in Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) from FIU prepares students with a well-rounded understanding of the history, culture, politics, economics, etc., of the region. FIU is uniquely positioned as thousands of foreign companies are represented in Florida and many multinational companies, with ties to Latin America and the Caribbean, are headquartered in South Florida. Because of this, FIU offers the most well-informed faculty members and instruction on Latin American and Caribbean Studies. This fully online program is designed to provide students with the necessary tools to comprehend international concepts and the current international business environment as it relates to careers in the private, government, and non-profit sectors. Courses cover timely and relatable topics to inspire global sensibilities and knowledge for today’s modern world.

    Career Opportunities

    According to executive recruiters, global studies, such as the Latin American and Caribbean Studies program, add considerable value to university graduates’ marketability. With a specific emphasis in international studies, graduates will become more competitive as they seek employment with multinational companies. Graduates of this program have pursued employment in government agencies (local, state, national), non-profit organizations, the financial industry, consumer advocacy, cultural affairs offices, human resources administration, translation and interpretation services, museums, social service agencies, public relations and marketing, environmental firms, FBI/CIA, disaster assistance, and K-12 education.

  • Courses

    Program Completion Requirements

    A total of 120 credits are required for the Bachelor of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

    To qualify for admission to the B.A. program, FIU undergraduates must have met all the university's lower division requirements, including the CLAS requirement or its equivalent, and have completed 60 semester hours.


    Required Core Courses (6 credits)

    • Introduction to Latin American and Caribbean Studies

    • Contemporary Latin America and the Caribbean


    Required Distribution (24 credits)

    • International Political Economy of Latin America and the Caribbean (9 credits)

    • Latin American and Caribbean Cultures (9 credits)

    • Main concentration (6 credits with the same or related prefixes)


    Language Requirements

    • Two semesters in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or French

    • Lower division (1000/2000) courses do not count towards the B.A. language requirements.

    • Two upper division language courses (3000/4000). Students must achieve intermediate proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or French. To meet pre-requisites of these upper division courses, students may successfully test out of these lower division courses.

    • Students who test out of language courses must still take two 3000/4000 language courses.

  • Requirements

    To ensure every student’s success, we have certain admissions requirements for each of our programs. To help you through the application process, our enrollment advisors are here to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way.


    FIU Admission Requirements

    Applications are accepted for Spring, Fall and Summer terms.


    Steps to Apply

    First Year Students

     Please submit the following:

    • Online application

    • $30 application fee.

    • Official SAT, ACT and/or CLT scores.

    • Official high school transcripts.


    Transfer Students

     Please submit the following:

    • Online application

    • $30 application fee.

    • Official college transcripts.

    • If you have less than 60 transferable college credits, you must also submit official high school transcripts and SAT, ACT and/or CLT scores in addition to any transcripts from postsecondary schools to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.


    International Students

     In addition to the above requirements, international applicants should submit:

    • Official English Language Proficiency exam scores (TOEFL or IELTS).

    • Official translations of any transcripts, if not in English.

    • If you have less than 60 transferrable college credits, you must also submit official high school transcripts with translation.

     

    Returning Students

    Returning students must meet the current university and degree-specific requirements to be admitted.

    FIU has policies for students who left FIU, please cli ck h ere for more details.

    Please submit the following:

    • Online application $30 application fee.

    • Updated official transcripts

     

    Program Admission Requirements

    • Candidates must first be accepted into the university. Students admitted to Florida International University are admitted directly to their chosen major.
    • Program Completion Requirements

    A total of 120 credits are required to complete the fully online undergraduate degree.  Students must complete the University Core Curriculum, University requirements and Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs requirements while satisfying requirements toward their Spanish major and are expected to make good progress based on critical indicators, such as GPA in specific courses or credits earned. In cases where students are not making good progress, a change of major may be required. The Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs advisors work to redirect students to more appropriate majors when critical indicators are not met.  For specific course requirements, visit the Courses tab on this program page.


    Admission Documents

    To complete the online undergraduate programs admissions form, select your program from the application form. You may complete the online application and submit it, even before taking any entrance exams. All supporting admission documents may be sent to:

    
Florida International University
    
Office of Undergraduate Admissions

    P.O. Box 659003

    Miami, FL 33265-9003

    USA



    FIU also accepts transcripts electronically via:

    • Faster (All FL public institutions)

    • Naviance (Typically used by private high schools)

    • SMART/Joint Service Transcript – Military records

    *Meeting the university minimum requirements does not guarantee admission

  • Tuition

    We’re thrilled that you’re considering online education and want you to know exactly what to expect for tuition and fees. Education is an investment in your future. Use the following student tuition and fees calculator to determine your costs.

  • Top Faculty

    Anthony Pereira, Ph.D., is a is a Professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations and the Director of the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC) at Florida International University (FIU). From 2010 to 2020 he was the founding director of the Brazil Institute at King’s College London. Dr. Pereira’s research interests include authoritarianism and democracy, human rights, public security policy, environmental issues, and international relations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

    Simone Athayde, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies and LACC. Dr. Athayde is an environmental anthropologist and interdisciplinary ecologist who has worked across the Amazonian region for over 20 years, supporting Indigenous peoples and local communities’ self-determination and sustainable livelihoods, as well as biocultural and territorial rights. She is a lead faculty for the LACC Program of Excellence in Brazilian Studies (PROBRAS).

    Jose Miguel Cruz, Ph.D., is the Director of Research at LACC. Previously, he was a visiting professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at FIU. Dr. Cruz is an expert in the area of criminal violence, gangs, police, democratization and public opinion in Latin America. Dr. Cruz has a Ph.D. in Political Science awarded by Vanderbilt University, a Master’s in Public Policy from Oxford University, and a BA in Psychology from the Central American University of El Salvador (UCA).

    Gabriela Hoberman, Ph.D., is the Director of Academic Programs at LACC and Faculty Director for the LACC Study Abroad Program “Society, Politics & International Relations in Argentina.” Dr. Hoberman is a political scientist and researcher in the field of disasters in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Her areas of expertise are comparative politics, disaster risk policy, genocide studies and Latin American politics. Her research interests include public policy, governance, and accountability. She teaches comparative politics courses in the Department of Politics and International Relations and collaborates with the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy in a series of initiatives on public policy and global security.

    Clinton Jenkins, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Earth and Environment and LACC. His research focuses on the conservation of biological diversity and efforts to reduce the loss of tropical species and ecosystems. He specializes in combining spatial modeling of biodiversity with analysis of conservation policy. The aim is to direct conservation efforts toward the places to save biodiversity most efficiently. He is a lead faculty for the LACC Program of Excellence in Brazilian Studies (PROBRAS).

fiuonline.fiu.edu

120 Credits Required

fiuonline.fiu.edu

235.57 Per Credit Hour (In-State) + Fees

fiuonline.fiu.edu

648.87 Per Credit Hour (Out-of-State) + Fees

* Total tuition and fees are subject to change.

Highlights

  • Fully online degree
  • Every online undergraduate student is paired with a success coach
  • Program starts: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Become part of an exceptional community and make the most of your education. Join the Honors College.
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